Our pledge to maintain a safe, inclusive, and respectful community. It is a promise between everyone who takes part in the Mikaelson Initiative: community members, participants, volunteers, and staff. Here is how we treat each other, and what happens when something goes wrong.
Last updated August 10, 2025
The Mikaelson Community Development And Tech Initiative (Mikaelson Initiative) is committed to creating a harassment-free, inclusive, and respectful environment for all community members, participants, volunteers, and staff.
We pledge to make participation in our community a welcoming experience for everyone, regardless of age, body size, visible or invisible disability, ethnicity, sex characteristics, gender identity and expression, level of experience, education, socio-economic status, nationality, personal appearance, race, religion, or sexual identity and orientation.
We strive to build the next generation of African leaders through excellence, integrity, collaboration, and mutual respect.
Three things we ask of each other, and of ourselves.
We encourage all members to pursue excellence in their personal and professional development while supporting others in their journey. This includes:
We value collaboration over competition. Members should actively support each other’s initiatives and contribute to collective success through:
We expect all members to act with integrity, take responsibility for their actions, and hold themselves accountable to our community standards:
What helps our community feel safe and welcoming, and what has no place in it.
Examples of behavior that contributes to a positive environment for our community include:
Examples of unacceptable behavior include:
In a workshop, on a video call or in your own work, the same care applies.
During Mikaelson Initiative events, workshops, programs, and activities:
In our digital spaces, including social media groups, forums, video calls, and virtual events:
All members must maintain the highest standards of academic and professional integrity:
When representing the Mikaelson Community Development And Tech Initiative (Mikaelson Initiative) or participating in community activities:
Community leaders, staff, and designated moderators are responsible for clarifying and enforcing our standards of acceptable behavior. They will take appropriate and fair corrective action in response to any behavior that they deem inappropriate, threatening, offensive, or harmful.
All reports will be reviewed promptly and thoroughly:
Community leaders will follow these Community Impact Guidelines in determining the consequences for any action they deem in violation of this Code of Conduct:
Impact: Use of inappropriate language or other behavior deemed unprofessional or unwelcome in the community.
Consequence: A private, written warning from community leaders, providing clarity around the nature of the violation and an explanation of why the behavior was inappropriate.
Impact: A violation through a single incident or series of actions.
Consequence: A warning with consequences for continued behavior. No interaction with the people involved for a specified period of time.
Impact: A serious violation of community standards, including sustained inappropriate behavior.
Consequence: A temporary ban from any sort of interaction or public communication with the community for a specified period of time.
Impact: Demonstrating a pattern of violation of community standards, including sustained inappropriate behavior, harassment, or aggression.
Consequence: A permanent ban from any sort of public interaction within the community.
If you experience or witness behavior that violates this Code of Conduct, please report it immediately. All community members are encouraged to report violations, even if they are not directly affected.
All reports will be handled with discretion and confidentiality. We are committed to protecting the privacy of both reporters and those being reported. Support resources are available for those affected by violations.
You can report violations through any of the following channels:
When reporting a violation, please provide as much information as possible:
For questions, concerns, or reports related to this Code of Conduct, visit our contact page for general conduct inquiries, or write to the Code of Conduct team at conduct@mikaelsoninitiative.org.
This Code of Conduct applies within all community spaces, including but not limited to:
This Code of Conduct also applies when an individual is officially representing the community in public spaces. Examples include using an official email address, posting via an official social media account, or acting as an appointed representative at events.
We are committed to supporting all community members and providing resources for those who need assistance.
For serious incidents or when additional support is needed, we can connect members with:
This Code of Conduct is a living document that may be updated periodically to reflect the evolving needs of our community and best practices in community management.
This Code of Conduct is adapted from the Contributor Covenant, version 2.1, and incorporates best practices from various community guidelines and organizational codes of conduct.
We acknowledge the work of community leaders and organizations worldwide who have contributed to developing ethical standards for inclusive and respectful communities.
This Code of Conduct reflects our commitment to building the next generation of African leaders through excellence, integrity, and mutual respect.
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